Thieves arrested after long car chase and carjacking 08-21-02

Hilo police have arrested and are holding two teen-aged males after a car chase that involved patrol officers in South Kohala, Kona and South Hilo.

Arrested Wednesday (August 21, 2002) were Joey K. Caseres, 18, of Hilo, and a juvenile. They are being held in the Hilo police cellblock pending further investigation.

The two were arrested after carjacking a red Kia compact car at the Mauna Kea State Park and driving toward Hilo on the Saddle Road.

The suspects had forced two German tourists, a man, 23, and a woman, 27, to drive them to Hilo. While mmission spotted the car heading toward Hilo and radioed ahead. The car was stopped as it entered the Hilo area in the vicinity of Kaumana City.

The incident started on Saturday (August 17, 2002) when the two suspects allegedly stole a blue 1991 Honda sedan parked at the Hale Nani Correctional Center in Hilo.

On Wednesday (August 21, 2002), they drove the stolen car to South Kohala, where they crashed through several gates at the Mauna Lani Resort in an attempt to steal another vehicle there. Security guards called the police about the vehicle, and South Kohala police spotted the vehicle in the Kawaihae area and pursued the vehicle on Queen Kaahumanu Highway toward Kailua-Kona.

Kona patrol officers picked up the pursuit when the stolen car entered the Kona Patrol District. After reaching the outskirts of Kailua-Kona, the two suspects turned mauka on Ka’iminani Drive up to the Hawaii Belt Road, where they headed back toward South Kohala. Because of the danger of pursuing a vehicle on the winding highway, Kona police gave up the chase on the Hawaii Belt Road.

The suspects then turned up the Saddle Road, which runs between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, until they reached Mauna Kea State Park. There, they commandeered the Kia compact car, forcing the tourist couple to drive them to Hilo.

No one was injured in the long chase through three police districts.

After stopping the vehicle, police recovered numerous items believed to be stolen. Police are asking that anyone who has information regarding the suspects or stolen items to call Hilo Criminal Investigation Section Detective Greg Esteban at 961-2384 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Hilo CIS detectives are continuing an investigation into the case, and no further details were immediately available.